Tasmanian Dare Devils

New Zealand is known world-wide for its spectacular brown trout fishing. Tasmania, which is located a little to the West - just South of Australia, has much the same potential for producing massive brown trout in pristine rivers and lakes - but it is quite unexplored and under-exposed compared to New Zealand.

Photography by DAMIEN BROUSTE

Accompanied by a couple of friends, I recently set out to charter the Tasmanian outback in search for trout. We had no idea what to expect, but we had our camping gear, supplies, camera equipment and fly fishing rods with us - in addition to lots of adventurous drive. It turned out to be more than enough for a great fly fishing adventure! The trout were there, they were hungry, and most of them had never seen an artificial fly before.

Tasmania is a part of the Commonwealth of Australia and is located 240 kilometres to the South of the Australian mainland. The Tasmanian main island, which is the 26th largest island in the world with its 68.000+ km2 of land area - is a massive wilderness that is quite sparsely populated. (More than half of the island’s population of 500.000 citizens reside in the state capital Hobart).

Tasmania is named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who made the first European reporting of the island in november 1642. Much of the island is formed by volcanic upwellings and it is rich in mountains, cliffs and massive rocks. The island is also rich in lakes, rivers, and creeks - and most of these are inhabited by trout.

Trout were successfully introduced in Tasmania 150 years ago due to the dogged determination of a group of men, who were mind-bent on bringing trout and salmon eggs the 8000km from England to the island. The first attempt was done back in February 1852 with the shipping of 50.000 ova on the 454 ton barque ‘Columbus’.

Despite intricate tray, cooler and water flow systems, the experiment failed - and so did consequent ones. Lots of experience was gained in the process, however, and in April 1864, after a 91 days long journey via Melbourne, the first shipment of trout and salmon ova arrived in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

They were transported 6km to the Derwent Valley using bamboo poles resting on shoulders, and here, the 20 sealed boxes, which simply consisted of wet moss and ova, were opened with fear and trembling. In them, 300 surviving trout ova were extracted - in addition to a good number of live salmon ova.

In May 1864, plenty of salmon and 300 healthy brown trout hatched. And while the ensuing salmon stocking was never succesful, the trout thrived, grew and multiplied. Furthermore, the Derwent Valley ‘Salmon Ponds’ hatchery became instrumental in introducing trout in New Zealand.

They were brought over in 1872 and quickly prospered.